NUMBER:
Gunner 6436

BATTALION / UNIT / SHIP:
4th Field Artillery Brigade

PLACE OF BIRTH:
Ballarat, Victoria

NEXT OF KIN:
His father, Alfred Ernest Belcher of Meeniyan, Victoria

PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
Melbourne 13/8/1915, his parents wrote a letter allowing him to enlist

PHYSICAL DETAILS ON ENLISTMENT:
Age 19 years 3 months, 5'6", 9 stone 8, brown eyes and black hair

RELIGION:
Roman Catholic

OCCUPATION:
Butcher

PLACE & DATE OF DEATH:
He died of wounds on 14/8/1917 in the 55th Field Hospital, Spoilbank, Belgium

LOCATION OF GRAVE/MEMORIAL:
He is buried in the Voormazoele Cemetery, Belgium

RELATIONSHIP TO WOORAYL SHIRE:
He came from Meeniyan, Victoria

MILITARY/OTHER HISTORY:
◈ His cousin Albert Belcher was also killed
◈ As he was under 21, his permission to enlist was signed by his father
◈ He was in the cadets in Outtrim
◈ 13/8/1915 He enlisted in Melbourne
◈ 18/11/1915 He embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Wiltshire
◈ He landed at Suez, then went to Heliopolis and Tel el Kebir
◈ 14/3/1916 He embarked Alexandria
◈ 19/3/1916 He disembarked Marseilles
◈ 21/7/1917 He went on leave to England
◈ He was in the 4th Field Artillery Brigade
◈ 14/8/1917 He died in the 55th Field Hospital
◈ He was buried in Voormazoele Cemetery
◈ His file contains a copy of his father's permission letter and another with his mother's signature on it (pages 16 and 17 of his file)
◈ His effects were: 2 identity discs, 2 rosaries, scissors, 3 coins, a fountain pen, cards, letters, cigarette case, knife, electric torch, money belt, pair of pliers, packet book, prayer book, wallet, cigarette lighter, body belt, 5 handkerchiefs, devotional medallion, cards, letters, brushes, metal ring, pipe, pair of gloves
◈ His mother, Mary Jane Belcher of Meeniyan P.O., received a 40/- per fortnight from 27/10/1917
◈ He had a National Mutual Insurance policy
◈ His father received all medals, scroll and plaque